South Wales Police have said they are "in discussions" with Swansea City and Cardiff City over the policing arrangements required for the upcoming South Wales Derby matches.
The South Wales derby is widely regarded as one of the fiercest rivalries in all of British football.
The two sides will meet in the Championship at the Liberty Stadium on Saturday, October 26, and at Cardiff City Stadium on Saturday, January 11.
Speculation has been building amongst fans in recent weeks that the games this year may not be "bubble matches".
Classification as a 'bubble match' means away fans must travel on designated transport, usually club coaches, from specific pick-up points.
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Travelling fans are bused directly to and from the ground, rather being allowed to make their own travel arrangements.
Bubble matches and restrictions on fans are used in extreme cases where clubs and police fear disorder.
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Asked about whether the game would be a bubble match, South Wales Police said precise details of the policing arrangements would be announced in due course.
A South Wales Police spokesman said: "As is the case at the start of every football season, we are in discussion with both Cardiff City and Swansea City regarding the policing requirements for their fixtures.
"The policing of the South Wales derby in previous years has been extremely successful and we will be working with both clubs to build on our experiences this season."
Police can use alternative methods to the 'bubble match' system to safeguard away fans visiting a rival's ground, including a police escort.
The away fans can also be held in the ground after the final whistle until the home fans have dispersed from the area. Early kick-off times are also employed.
It has been a significant length of time since the two clubs last met, with the most recent being on February 8, 2014, at the Liberty Stadium in the Premier League. The match ended in a 3-0 win for Swansea with goals coming from Wayne Routledge, Nathan Dyer and Wilfried Bony.
In the opposite match that season, Swansea lost 1-0 at the Cardiff City Stadium on November 3, 2013, when former Swan Steven Caulker popped up with the winner.
